Trapdoor (Part 3)

by anza (09.11.05)

Dinner went swimmingly. At least, as well as it could, with Kadaj and Tifa flirting shamelessly.

Cloud didn't mind. He didn't mind the roast chicken either; Yazoo knew he liked the herb and garlic one, so that was the one that graced the table. The cream cheese clouds were in the oven, baking to light cinnamon-goodness. The green beans were, predictably, the only things left when the meal was over. Cloud gave Yazoo's pile of green mush ("I like playing with my food before I eat it," he protested, and his eyes slid up catlike for a moment) a glare and a pursed lip, and like meek mice the boys finished their beans. Tifa almost killed herself laughing.

"Of course not, Miss Lockhart," Kadaj swatted an imaginary fly. On his body, the gesture was generous, grandiose. "We would be delighted to play at your bar."

Yazoo, Loz and Cloud were all more skeptical. "You haven't even asked Uncle Seph yet," Loz growled out behind his chicken leg. Cloud nodded sagely in response.

"I'll convince him," Kadaj volunteered with a sweet smile. Everyone at the table took one look at his face and agreed he would be able to win even Sephiroth over.

"And my schedule," Yazoo added in disbelief. "Three-hour commute? Hello?"

"I'll get Cid to take you," Loz answered

Yazoo rolled his eyes in a typical teenager fashion that he hadn't quite grown out of yet. "Cid? He'll swing by at six in the morning. That means I can't attend lecture for the rest of the day!" He cut Loz off before he could retort. "I bet it'll be on a Friday. It'll be on a Friday won't it?" When Tifa nodded uncertainly, Yazoo moaned, "That means I'll miss the Saturday party scene!"

Kadaj chuckled. "You sexy beast," he winked at his brother, falling into their comfortable teasing atmosphere, "you never go to the Saturday party scene. You're too busy missing niisan." His voice sang out sugary-sweet, and Cloud gave up his poker face.

It returned with Yazoo's next comment. "I do NOT miss nii-san," he protested.

With grave adult maturity, Cloud picked up his fork and flicked a green bean at Yazoo's head.

When they were finished with the fight, Tifa had slimy green beans wound through her hair, Cloud was an indiscernable mess of pasta and homemade marinara sauce, Yazoo's hair was twisted into a bun with the bone of a drumstick (courtesy of Loz's strength to hold him down and Kadaj's "artistic side"), and Loz was grumpily picking up pieces of their best "guests-over" plate off the ground. Somehow Kadaj managed to avoid everything except for a splotch of pasta sauce on his shoulder and the entire oily contents of the green-bean dish upended in his lap. Tifa had turned entirely senseless with laughter while Cloud righted the table and ordered Yazoo to get the damn chicken bone out of his hair and get the broom, now please, and Kadaj to throw Tifa in the shower, clothes and all, if she didn't stop laughing.

All in a day's work. To think he started the day filing papers.

Distantly he heard the shower start and Kadaj come back into the room. Loz was grumbling the lyrics to the heavy metal theme song of one of their favorite action films while scraping what was left of the chicken into the trash. Absently Cloud began to mop the marinara sauce on Kadaj's shoulder.

A hand stopped him. "I'm not a child, nii-san." Kadaj's eyes shone like half-lit moons in the dim kitchen. Cloud dropped the towel into his brother's hand with a nod, and turned to help Yazoo mop the floor.

Yes, of course Kadaj wasn't a child. It was only Cloud's wishful thinking that he could keep them here. His hands gripped the rag and it squeaked loudly against the floor. He and Kadaj had just waxed this yesterday. It wouldn't be long at all until he was waxing it alone, with nothing but the photographs of silver hair and green eyes to keep him company.